Early Rock Star Treasures at Christies Rock and Pop Sale

Christie’s New York Rock and Pop Memorabilia sale on November 21 covers nearly 30
years of rock and roll history, and offers rare and exciting manuscripts, lyrics and ephemera
documenting pivotal moments in the careers of America’s greatest rock legends. Highlights include
prized works from Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison — all from the dawning of their
stage careers as each wrote a new chapter in the history of rock.

The earliest Bob Dylan manuscript ever to appear at auction, Poems Without Titles, was written during
his brief time at the University of Minnesota from 1959-1960
(estimate: $60,000-80,000). Sixteen pages of hand written poems,
most signed ‘Dylan’ or ‘Dylanism,’ documents the earliest known
usage of his pseudonym, having changed his name from Robert
Zimmerman. Arguably one of the greatest songwriters of the 20 th
Century, the poems present a glimpse of Dylan’s fleeting
adolescence and his burgeoning talent before his first trip to New
York City. While some of the poems are rooted in his daily
University life and reference his Jewish heritage with Yiddish
phrases, the wit and irony pervasive in his later songwriting are
already evident in this body of work.

Another rare item is an original and complete recording of Dylan (estimate: $40,000-60,000). Well
known among aficionados, this recording was made at Thanksgiving, 1961, at his friend Peter
McKenzie’s house, whom Dylan stayed with upon arriving in New York.

From one of the most memorable days in rock and roll history is a gilt
metal medallion worn by Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival of
1967 when he set his guitar ablaze (estimate: $60,000-80,000). This
historic and well documented performance marked the American debut of
Hendrix’s band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The consigner met
Hendrix at the Scene Nightclub in New York City, shortly after the
Monterey Festival, and she accompanied him on tour to Washington,
D.C. later that year.

A rare set of lyrics written by Jim Morrison for the song Not to Touch the Earth, from the 1968 album
Waiting for the Sun, have solid provenance from The Doors confidante and aide, the late Danny
Sugerman (estimate: $40,000-60,000). Written on both sides of The Doors stationary, the lyrics mark
the first appearance of Morrison’s mythical alter ego, The Lizard King.

An assortment of Beatles memorabilia promises to excite collectors. A Tom Tom drum used by
Paul McCartney in the late 1950s, while he was a teenager and before the Beatles formed is featured
(estimate: $4,000-6,000). A rare concert poster from the late Norman Weiss is believed to be one of
four ever made from the 1964 show at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and reads The Fabulous Four
Beatles… Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison… In Person… Sorry! Sold Out, Hope To
See You The Next Time Around (estimate: $7,000-9,000). An intern working at a Montreal radio
station during John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In for Peace in 1969 acquired a signed White
Album from the couple (estimate: $8,000-12,000). The intern was responsible for setting up the
equipment of the broadcast, and used the opportunity to have his record autographed.

Two instruments from the Muscle Shoals Recording Studio in Alabama are steeped in history — a
Wurlitzer electric piano (estimate: $4,000-6,000) and a Hammond electric organ (estimate: $7,000-
9,000). Used in recording sessions from 1969 to 2005, some of the most memorable album
recordings to come from the studio include the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers and Bob Dylan’s Saved
and Slow Train Coming.

Fans of the Rolling Stones will notice a gold disc for Satisfaction which was awarded to Brian Jones
(estimate: $6,000-8,000), and a black top hat worn onstage by Mick Jagger in the 1972 North
American tour, thrown into the crowd and collected by a fan (estimate: $2,000-3,000). The highlight
of the pop section of the sale is a sleeveless blue denim jacket worn by Madonna in a 1983 photo
shoot, at the time of the release of her first album, Madonna (estimate: $6,000-8,000).

More information about Christie's sale of Rock and Pop Memorabilia can be found on www.christies.com

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